St. Benedict's Grand Surprise - St. Mary's Church

I've never visited the grand churches of Europe, but I've seen many photographs over the years. Little did I know that I'd catch a glimmer of their magnificence in a 150-year-old sanctuary and a barely-there town located outside of Seneca, Kansas. From the moment I entered on a chilly, blustery afternoon, the stone building that is St. Mary's Church took my breath away,

Named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art by the Kansas Sampler Foundation, the church was founded even before the Kansas Territory became a state. The first wood frame church building took shape in 1859. By 1880, St. Mary's Parish had outgrown the church - twice. Finally, in 1891, the growing parish had laid the foundation for a much larger fourth church, crafted from native limestone.

More than 150 years later, this stunning house of worship has long held a place on the Kansas Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. The Catholic church is full of exquisite architectural detail, from hand-painted figures of angels and Jesus, to soaring ceiling arches.

The sanctuary underwent major renovation and received a new main altar, in 1899, followed by the addition of two gilded side altars the following year.

In 1901 artist, G.F. Satory added decorative flourishes throughout the room, using stencils and highly detailed painted designs. Td.  Zukotynski, a Russian-born artist, added 14 oil paintings to the sanctuary. Improvements continued through the early 1900s, with major restoration work during the 1940s.

Today, this rural church remains a vibrant testament to the faith and dedication of its parishioners.